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Best Vehicle for Bass Players

What's the best vehicle to get you and your gear around?

  • Small Compact Car

    Votes: 24 10.7%

  • Small Pickup Truck

    Votes: 14 6.2%

  • Mom's Station Wagon with wooden sidepanels

    Votes: 33 14.7%

  • Mid Sized SUV

    Votes: 77 34.2%

  • Soccer Mom Mini Van

    Votes: 43 19.1%

  • Skateboard

    Votes: 2 0.9%

  • I sold my car to buy a bass

    Votes: 9 4.0%

  • The Tube, Metro, Subway, and Cab it home

    Votes: 2 0.9%

  • Yellow Cabs or Black Cabs

    Votes: 1 0.4%

  • Giant 4 Ton Pickup Truck that usually tows your yacht

    Votes: 17 7.6%

  • I'm a mooch and only play other people's bass rigs

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • Total voters
    225
#41
Pilgrim said:
The mid-size SUV rules in the rankings - and functionally. There's a good reason that they are so popular; they do many things very well.

I changed from a '99 Blazer to a 2007 Nissan Murano and it has AWD, swallows all my gear, is a comfortable and quiet town and highway vehicle, and gets acceptable gas mileage. Rear seats fold flat enough to sleep in, and the rear seats even recline in normal use! Win-win-win!
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I used to have a Murano, worked pretty well.

Right now I drive a '09 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, great milage. I've been able to squeeze as much as 32 MPG out of it... though that was perfect circumstances. If I don't use cheap no name gas I usually get 20-21 mpg in the city. Though where I live everything is RaceTrac, QuikTrip, etc so I usually get 19 mpg. I could prob get more but I don't drive like a granny... I guess it was from my days of driving a Subaru WRX in college.

I've owned everything from a small coupe (my wife's civic, good luck getting anything in there), small hatchback (WRX fit a 8x10 in it :hyper: ), to a mid sized car (Grand Am), to a large truck (Silverado Longbed). My preference is the mid-sized SUV.
 
#43
TBird1958 said:
You didn't include Subaru's........Outback wagons are great cars, easy to load, lots of room, A.W.D. modest $$$$. Allows you more money for basses :)

TECH067.jpg
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I would have thought you would drive a Ford Thunderbird.

(Nice collection btw!)
 
#44
I was in a similar situation a couple years ago. The vehicle that I found that had the most space and could still get 30+ MPG fuel consumption was a Chevy HHR. A van or SUV has more room, but not near the fuel economy. Maybe there is a better option, but that was the best I could find with good mileage at the time.
 
#47
I drive an '06 Pontiac Montana. It's great for those gigs where I'm doubling on keys (room for bass, bass cab, bass amp, pedal/cable bag, keyboard, keyboard stand, stool etc.), or where the drummer needs a lift. Also good for fitting my family and a few [DEL]hangers-on[/DEL] friends of my kids. If I didn't have a family I'd probably go with a station wagon, which is what my wife and I had originally, before moving up to a minivan, and then the full-size. Interestingly, I mostly owned full-size vans from when I was a teenager until when I met my wife, mostly because I was the designated driver in our band all through the 90s.
 
#48
bassguitar808 said:
so my Corolla is on the way out
but it fits my Fender 2x15 cab in the back seat
my amp rack in the front seat, pedal bag
and at least a Bass or two in the trunk

I'm considering something maybe with a diesel engine, and manual transmission

whats the best recommendation for a fuel economic vehicle that can drag my stuff around ?

What are you driving ?
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I have a diesel Jetta wagon - great mileage (40+), fun to drive. Could haul just about anything in it...
 
#52
ButtUglyJeff said:
I have to ask. What's up with the headstock on the last Thunderbird? Great collection, and I'd love to see all those cases fit...
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On the right? It's a Fenderbird, made from an Epiphone body and a lefty mighty mite jazz neck.
I haven't tried, but I *think* they'd fit if some were standing on edge with the remainder stacked, plus a couple in front seat.
 
#57
+1 on an Element... I love mine!


D.A.R.K. said:
for a personal use vehicle, i went with a honda element (after 24 years of owning vans). not the best mileage for an economy vehicle (greatly depends on how you drive it) but a strong engine, suspension and sick amount of space for the size. i can tightly fit my entire back line and band (trio) in mine if necessary.
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